THE licensee at a popular Birdwell pub says he has been forced to move out and close for the foreseeable future after it was targeted by vandals who showered it in paint.

Saleem Khandaker has, with his fiancee, been running The Cock Inn, on Pilley Hill, for the last two years - and he says until recently they’ve loved every minute.

They lived there with their dogs and they had been credited with masterminding a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes and popularity of the 264-year-old pub.

But things started to change in the last few months with a string of minor incidents and criminal damage - culminating in the sinister attack in Tuesday’s early hours.

CCTV cameras captured masked yobs smashing virtually every window and then splattering white paint all over the frontage.

The repair bill is expected to run into thousands and, for now at least, Saleem says he’s unsure when - or even if - the pub will reopen properly.

Part of the pub will be open this weekend to honour bookings made in the steakhouse but after Sunday, it will remain closed until further notice.

Saleem told the Chronicle: “We moved into The Cock Inn on March 30, 2023 and we were told it was struggling and our job was to pull it up. We did that right from the beginning.

“We started the food and we had people travelling for hours to just come and eat.

“We’ve worked our fingers to the bone - this is our business and we put everything into the place.

“This place is not just a job for us - it’s a way of life and we fell in love with it. We are absolutely distraught.

“People may want to say this is an isolated incident but it is untrue.

“CCTV confirms they lined six bricks up in the car park - we have six windows at the front of the building.

“They knew exactly what they were coming to do and they knew how they were going to do it.”

And despite the damage, the police failed to make any contact with the pair.

Saleem says he has lost faith with the force over their lack of action.

“We’ve got footprints in the paint and CCTV confirms that two people came.There are finger prints on the bricks.

“Had I any confidence in the police, I would have the ambition to carry on.

“I have completely lost all my faith in South Yorkshire Police.

“Where is the deterrent?

“If they can get away with this then what happens next time?

“They could firebomb this while we’re in here.”

Saleem says that he has been left with no option but to leave the pub due to what is going on - a heartbreaking situation given his love for it.

He said: “We did everything we could.

“I’m saying ‘did’ because I don’t know if my heart is telling me that’s it for us.

“It is personal - our job was to ensure that The Cock Inn would continue and we did that.

“We’d do 12 hours at work, we’d go to bed and we’d smile at each other. We’d say ‘same again tomorrow?’.

“It’s got to the level where we will not spend another night in this property.

“I will not put my fiancee’s, my life or my animals’ lives at risk.”

Coun Sherry Holling, who represents the Rockingham ward, went to see the landlords after the incident.

She said: “I am absolutely disgusted that someone would do this to this lovely pub.

“They have threatened the livelihoods of those that run it and those that work in it.

“Those customers who come in to socialise and reminisce will have to find a new venue, now.

“This should not be happening in Birdwell.”

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police told the Chronicle that they were unable to visit the pub once the incident was reported to them due to Operation Duxford on Wednesday.

Temporary Chief Inspector for Barnsley Neighbourhoods Richard Mangham said: “We understand this incident will have been very distressing for the victim, as well as causing concern among members of the surrounding community who have seen a popular local venue vandalised.

"An investigation has been opened, and we are currently exploring lines of enquiry, including a CCTV trawl.

“We are actively working to make contact with the victim to ensure all necessary enquiries are carried out in a bid to identify a suspect and that the victim remains updated throughout the investigation.

"If you have any information about this incident, please get in touch online, via live chat or by calling 101 quoting crime reference number 318 of August 5."